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Woman's Hour

BBC Radio 4
Mental Health
Breast Cancer
Women's Rights
Women's Health
Iran
Christmas
Menopause
Social Media
Cyberflashing
Olympics
NHS
Women
SEND Reforms
Afghanistan
Family Traditions
Sexual Health For Over 50s
Endometriosis
Jeffrey Epstein
Ketamine
Psychology

Women's voices and women's lives - topical conversations to inform, challenge and inspire. The Woman's Hour Guide to Life collection is here: www.bbc.co.uk/guidetolife

PublishesDailyEpisodes2000Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Woman's Hour

Latest Episodes

Women who have missed a cervical screening appointment in England are to be offered HPV self-testing kits by the NHS. Over the next year, nearly four million women will receive invites on the NHS App or via text message, email or letter to order a fr... more

Hormone replacement therapy may reduce the risk of dementia, a new study has found. Researchers tracked more than 180,000 postmenopausal women and their analysis suggests that those who had used HRT appeared to be less likely to develop dementia and ... more

People who were sexually abused as children and later seek help for mental health problems are being failed by the NHS, according to The Royal College of Psychiatrists. The RCOP has issued a public apology, saying decades of mismanagement and misdiag... more

Singer-songwriter, actress and philanthropist Dolly Parton has died aged 80. She was a feminist icon, although she denied the former. Known as The Queen of Country, she paved the way for many women in music. To remember her, Nuala is joined by Countr... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Helen Millichap
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Director at National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls
Police
Episode: Weekend Woman's Hour: Women in Afghanistan, Composer Gabriela Ortiz, Tourette Syndrome
Shahrazad Akbar
Human rights activist and visiting fellow at Wolfson College, Oxford
Wolfson College, Oxford
Episode: Girls in Afghanistan, Female entrepreneurs and life editing, Women’s cricket
Purvin Juma
Former Afghan refugee, later UK resident sharing personal journey
Independent/Advocate
Episode: Girls in Afghanistan, Female entrepreneurs and life editing, Women’s cricket
Eshita Kabra
Founder of By Rotation, fashion rental platform
By Rotation
Episode: Girls in Afghanistan, Female entrepreneurs and life editing, Women’s cricket
Emmie Faust
Co-founder of Female Founders Rise
Female Founders Rise
Episode: Girls in Afghanistan, Female entrepreneurs and life editing, Women’s cricket
Miles Leeson
Director of the Iris Murdoch Research Centre
University of Chichester
Episode: Girls in Afghanistan, Female entrepreneurs and life editing, Women’s cricket
Fosia Musa
Author of The Strangling Fig
Author
Episode: Simon Levy verdict; the partition of India in fiction; mudlarking
Lara Makelum
Mudlarker, Mudlark in Residence
Mudlarker
Episode: Simon Levy verdict; the partition of India in fiction; mudlarking
Brianna Holt
Author and journalist
The Guardian, journalist
Episode: Simon Levy verdict; the partition of India in fiction; mudlarking

Hosts

Kylie Pentelow
Host of Woman's Hour
Nuala McGovern
Host of Woman's Hour
Anita Rani
Host of Woman's Hour

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 4.2k ratings
  • NELL

    Nell Frizzell hating on birthday cake, telling her children on their birthdays about HER labour including all her pain and suffering with their birth journey is completely self absorbed and selfish, yet wants her family to give her a sleep in on her birthday! Her take on a person being completely forgotten by her husband and children on her birthday is very telling.

    I hope Anita and Poorna had a coffee after this interview with delicious cake!🍰 🧁

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CatherineQ34
    Australia6 months ago
  • Excellent coverage - audio needs improvement

    I’ve loved WH for years and regularly listen to the weekend edition. Recently the audio has declined however and is only coming through one headphone - it’s the only podcast that does it - and renders it inaudible.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Harhan79
    United Kingdom7 months ago
  • Palestine

    I feel like I’ve just sat through a pro Hamas report when I was looking forward to Woman”s Hour. Return the hostages and all the conflict ends.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Mrs Etherington
    Canadaa year ago
  • Be quiet Lula

    Could be a great show but Lula seems unable to run a competent interview. Please help her learn to be quiet and listen to her interviewee. She jumps to conclusions, won’t allow people to explain even very complex subjects. She comes across as being terribly rude and self obsessed; she’s quite off putting and not a great listen

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Vanishing Kiwi
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Do Better

    Nuala McGovern wasn’t neutral when interviewing Helen Joyce on 14 May 2025. She was definitely coming down on the side of men who identify as trans women. Was it BBC bias or her own? Do better Women’s Hour.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Moti Mo
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critics call out interview styles as too confrontational or biased at times.
Positive feedback on the breadth of topics from culture to policy, though some desire more depth in certain areas.
Listeners praise courageous, insightful interviews and strong female perspectives.
Appreciation for coverage of health, parenting, and social issues with practical takeaways.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Weekend Woman’s Hour: Listener week - Elderly caring, women in boat building, dialects, functional skills in schools
Q: Why is functional skills pitched as an alternative to GCSEs, and how might policy change?
Experts argue for integrating functional skills into GCSEs or creating a universal standard to replace the arbitrary grade four, citing better accessibility and employability.
Weekend Woman’s Hour: Listener week - Elderly caring, women in boat building, dialects, functional skills in schools
Q: What support options exist for carers right now?
Panelists explain formal resources like Age UK, carers services, and local organizations, plus the importance of coordinated support and practical steps families can take.
Composer Gabriela Ortiz, North Devon Maternity suspension, Children reading
Q: How did Gabriela Ortiz respond to the Proms opportunity and what does the piece explore?
Ortiz explains that the piece was inspired by feminist protests and femicide in Mexico, collaborating with writers to address violence against women and the role of art in social commentary.
Composer Gabriela Ortiz, North Devon Maternity suspension, Children reading
Q: What is the impact of the maternity service suspension on families in North Devon?
Families face long travel times to reach safe birth facilities, pressure to relocate temporarily, and concerns about the lack of options and support during a high-stress period.
Weekend Woman's Hour: Women in Afghanistan, Composer Gabriela Ortiz, Tourette Syndrome
Q: What does Purvin think international communities could do to help Afghan women and girls?
She emphasizes a coordinated, globally sustained, accountability-driven response, urging more concrete support for education, protection, and rights, while highlighting the ongoing humanitarian and legal gaps faced by women in Afghanistan.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Woman's Hour

What is Woman's Hour about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A topical, women-centered talk show that covers culture, health, education, policy, and personal stories through a mix of expert guests and listener voices. Episodes frequently pair policy context with lived experience, exploring how gender shapes opportunities, care, and social norms, while also spotlighting arts, sport, and technology through accessible, human-focused conversations. Notable strengths include a consistent emphasis on practical guidance, advocacy, and authentic narratives from diverse women, which can help listeners feel informed and empowered. The show's breadth—ranging from midwifery and motherhood to dialect history and third-culture kid experience—offers something for listeners seeking both expert analysis and personal ... more

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How many subscribers and views does Woman's Hour have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Woman's Hour has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Woman's Hour?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Woman's Hour:

1. Desert Island Discs
2. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
3. Off Air with Jane & Fi
4. Happy Place
5. Dig It with Jo Whiley and Zoe Ball

How many episodes of Woman's Hour are there?

Woman's Hour launched 20 years ago and published 2000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Woman's Hour?

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What guests have appeared on Woman's Hour?

Recent guests on Woman's Hour include:

1. Helen Millichap
2. Shahrazad Akbar
3. Purvin Juma
4. Eshita Kabra
5. Emmie Faust
6. Miles Leeson
7. Fosia Musa
8. Lara Makelum

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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